Isaiah538
12th July 2007, 01:08 PM
"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shout for joy." (Isaiah 35:5,6a)
The testimony of numerous healings, as we see in the four gospels and other places, is multiplied so as to be in the dozens, if not the hundreds. Christ' fame and credibility grew from there. If these many healings had no witnesses, the credibility of the gospels would have been shot down before the death of John, the author of the fourth gospel. One only need visit the area of Galilee to discover the validity, or disprove the claims of healings. The fact that there is no ancient first century account that denies they occured, speaks volumes. With the majority and great zeal with them, why is there no denial? They took another route.
When confronted with these accounts of healings and miracles, some in Christ' day said that He performed His miracles by the power of the evil one. The witnesses were overwhelming, and the charge of sorcery seemed to be the only other recourse. But what sorcerer before or since did the good it is reported of Jesus Christ? The devil has never had the power Christ has.
The prophet Elijah was used of God to raise the dead. Christ raised the dead three times, one time a man who had died four days earlier. Jesus gave sight to a man born blind, which had never been done before. He healed many from town to town, instantly calmed the raging sea, walked upon the waves... and remember none of His followers recanted these accounts, even though tortured, at times to the point of death.
The perfect Old Testament response to a miracle happened when Elijah cried out to God and saw the life of a child restored. "Then the woman said to Elijah, " Now I know that you are a man of God and the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth." (1 Kings 17:24)
When asked of some to tell them plainly if He was the Christ, "Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Fathers name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." (John 10:25,26)
Clearly His works were good, and miraculous, not the works of a devil, or merely a good teacher. How could one do the works He did unless He was from God?
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
Poetic language to be sure, but could you ever think of a greater fulfillment than that of Jesus Christ?
The testimony of numerous healings, as we see in the four gospels and other places, is multiplied so as to be in the dozens, if not the hundreds. Christ' fame and credibility grew from there. If these many healings had no witnesses, the credibility of the gospels would have been shot down before the death of John, the author of the fourth gospel. One only need visit the area of Galilee to discover the validity, or disprove the claims of healings. The fact that there is no ancient first century account that denies they occured, speaks volumes. With the majority and great zeal with them, why is there no denial? They took another route.
When confronted with these accounts of healings and miracles, some in Christ' day said that He performed His miracles by the power of the evil one. The witnesses were overwhelming, and the charge of sorcery seemed to be the only other recourse. But what sorcerer before or since did the good it is reported of Jesus Christ? The devil has never had the power Christ has.
The prophet Elijah was used of God to raise the dead. Christ raised the dead three times, one time a man who had died four days earlier. Jesus gave sight to a man born blind, which had never been done before. He healed many from town to town, instantly calmed the raging sea, walked upon the waves... and remember none of His followers recanted these accounts, even though tortured, at times to the point of death.
The perfect Old Testament response to a miracle happened when Elijah cried out to God and saw the life of a child restored. "Then the woman said to Elijah, " Now I know that you are a man of God and the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth." (1 Kings 17:24)
When asked of some to tell them plainly if He was the Christ, "Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Fathers name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." (John 10:25,26)
Clearly His works were good, and miraculous, not the works of a devil, or merely a good teacher. How could one do the works He did unless He was from God?
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
Poetic language to be sure, but could you ever think of a greater fulfillment than that of Jesus Christ?